June 30th, 2006 | By Administrator

Houston, Texas rapper Lil’ Flip announced that he is no longer signed to Sony Music Group and has inked a deal with Asylum Records/Warner Music Group.

According to Lil’ Flip’s manager Sandy Lal, the rapper will leave Sony with the rights to the master recording of his new album, I Need Mine. The move is the culmination of months of disenchantment between Lil’ Flip and his former label.

?Flip and I are ecstatic,” Lal, told AllHipHop.com in a statement. ?Our relationship with Sony has been quite fruitful. I’ve always believed that Flip’s potential is virtually unlimited, and we’re really eager to take it to the next level. Being able to walk away with the masters to I Need Mine is an absolute victory.”

I Need Mine will feature production by Mannie Fresh and others. The new CD was pushed back several times, with the latest date being June 27. The album is Flip?s follow-up to his platinum double-disc set, U Gotta Feel Me.

Asylum is a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, which already houses a roster of talent that includes Cam?ron, D4L, Mike Jones, Webbie, Scarface and others.

June 28th, 2006 | By Administrator

New Orleans rapper Juvenile is hitting the road this week to perform a series of free concerts for members of the United States military.

On Friday (June 30), the UTP/Atlantic artist will travel to the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, to perform at Bayfest Hawaii 2006 to support his latest album Reality Check.

The rapper will hit Kaneohe Bay on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, along with rockers Staind, Chris Cagle, Molly Hatchett, Trick Pony, .38 Special , where he will headline Bayfest Hawaii 2006, which is sponsored by Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, Ohana Hotels & Resorts, Hot 93.9 FM and KHVH News Radio 830 AM.

The concert is free to Army personnel and military ID holders only.

Juvenile will then journey abroad to South Korea, which is a major port for U.S. soldiers returning to and from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Juvenile will headline a string of performances at United States Army Bases, including Camp Casey, Yongsan Garrison, Camp Walker, Camp Red Cloud, and Camp Humphreys.

Atlanta rap group The Youngbloodz will perform on the last four of the dates in South Korea as well.

In 2004, Juvenile’s label UTP inked a long-term worldwide deal with Atlantic Records and shortly afterwards, his seventh solo album Reality Check debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, a first for the rapper.

In related news, Juvenile was nominated for two Ozone Awards at the 1st Annual Ozone Awards, taking place at the 2006 TJ?s DJ?s Tastemaker DJ/Music Conference in Orlando.

June 27th, 2006 | By Administrator

Rapper Lil’ Scrappy is setting the mood for his forthcoming sophomore album, Bred 2 Die, Born 2 Live by shooting videos for two of the album’s tracks.

The Atlanta native will travel to Los Angeles, CA this week to shoot videos for “Money in the Bank” and “Gangsta Gangsta.”

Both clips will be helmed by acclaimed video director Marcus Raboy.

Featuring BME head Lil’ Jon and G-Unit member Young Buck rapping with Scrappy over an Isaac Hayes III-produced track, the “Money in the Bank” video captures the three artists living it up inside a backroom casino.

Lil’ Scrappy again teams with Lil’ Jon for “Gangsta Gangsta.”

The video for the Lil’ Jon-produced song features the pair engaging in a high-speed chase after being pulled over by police.

“Money In The Bank” and “Gangsta Gangsta” are the first two singles from Bred 2 Die, Born 2 Live, Scrappy’s follow-up to his near platinum debut EP The King of Crunk & BME Recordings Present: Trillville & Lil’ Scrappy.

The new album, which will be released on BME/Reprise, features cameos from Lil’ Jon, 50 Cent, Scrappy’s label mate Bohagon, Ma$e and Young Dro.

In addition to Jon and Hayes, production will be handled by Jazze Pha, G-Unit’s Sha Money and Shondre (Ludacris, 8 Ball & MJG, Kelis).

June 20th, 2006 | By Administrator

In front of a crowd in excess of 20,000 people, the Mississippi native was honored for his charitable efforts in organizing a series of star-studded Hip-Hop benefit concerts in support of the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

“As a man raised in the hood, you only see our heros being recognized for negative things,” Banner explained to AllHipHop.com. “Getting this award in Left Eye’s memory shows me that people do recognize my efforts and that it is worth going the extra mile.”

Banner was successful in raising over $500,000 last year through his non-profit organization Heal the Hood.

The foundation, which he launched prior to Hurricane Katrina, has a mission of assisting people who reside in harsh urban environments.

Profits that were generated from the benefit concert were donated to the hardest hit states with the greatest need including communities in southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and New Orleans.

In addition to his charitable efforts, Banner is set to make his acting debut alongside Samuel L. Jackson this year in the Craig Brewer directed film Black Snake Moan.

The movie is a tale about a white woman who is a nymphomaniac and must be cured of her disorder by a black bluesman.

Banner is also scheduled to co-host the 1st Annual Ozone Award Show, which is set to take place in Orlando, Florida on August 6th.

June 19th, 2006 | By Administrator

No Limit Records head Master P. will mark Independence Day with the release of Repos, a new DVD released on his HollyHood Cinema production company.

The film, which stars P. Kat Williams, A.J. Johnson and Michael Blackston, is the first of 100 DVD movies the rapper will release by 2007. Each DVD will include a free CD soundtrack.

?If I had to compare any of my movies to any movies out there I would compare them to Uptown Saturday Night; it?s funny, it has a great cast, and it?s meaningful,? Master P. told AllHipHop.com.

Master P. believes HollyHood Cinema is the new outlet for talented actors and actresses whose skills go unrecognized due to the traditional Hollywood politics.

?I feel hands down that Kat Williams is the next Richard Prior, A.J. Johnson is the next Bill Cosby, and Michael Blackston is the next Sidney Poitier,? Master P. added.

The entertainment business is focusing more on the visual entertainment due to the internet downloading of music, according to Master P, who added that most of his consumers don?t like going to the movie theaters.

As a result, HollyHood will target those who want to enjoy top quality, high definition, dramas and comedy in the comfort of their homes.

HollyHood follows the rap mogul?s recent announcement of the creation of his reality television show, America?s Next Hip-Hop Stars. Master P will host the show, which will feature 12 solo artists and six groups performing hip-hop songs to be critiqued by a panel of celebrity judges.

A $50,000 recording deal will be offered to the winning rapper and group.

Repos, slated for release on July 4, will be available at retail stores, including Blockbuster, Wal-Mart and Target. For more information on the movie, visit www.reposmovie.com.

June 16th, 2006 | By Administrator

The rapper’s new album New Joc City is riding high at number one on this week’s Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Album Chart with 149,000 units sold, as well as number three on the Billboard Top 200.

While Joc is appreciative of the success, the MC remains grounded while not letting his fame soften his grind.

“It feels like it’s more work to come. I’m not that excited only because I know that I got to keep dropping good music to keep it that ,” Joc told AllHipHop.com.

The rapper admitted to praying for his good fortune and modeling his work ethic after fellow rapper Young Jeezy.

“A lot people don’t think I’m happy because I don’t get excited. They don’t understand that I’ve been working at it a long time so when it comes I’m very happy. I’m just at a different level of thinking because I’m like in order to maintain it, I gotta stay focused. I can’t get caught up in celebrating. I’ll celebrate when I can kick back for the next 20 years and do nothing.

While the album’s first single “It’s Goin Down” continues to hover in the Billboard Top Ten, Joc already has plans for his follow-up, “I Know You See It.”

“The next single, I’m going to pray harder and I’m going to work harder,” said the wordsmith, who also serves as president of Mastermind Music. “I’m going to get out here and grinder harder than I grinded on ‘It’s Goin Down.’ The whole team [is] going to grind. We [are] going to grind harder. On the next single, we [are] going to try and make that a number one single.”

The success of New Joc City has opened the door to variety of opportunities for Joc such as movies, commercials and endorsements.

Musicically, fans will be able to hear the rapper on upcoming remixes with Cassie, Cherish and Cheri Dennis as well as new singles from Trey Songs and Marques Houston.

The options are the result of a long journey for Joc, who is quick to admit that he is no overnight succcess.

Nevertheless, Joc has a message for everyone who had a hand in shaping his career.

“This right here is for all the people who believe in me and my struggle and my grind. I want you tell them that I said ‘Thank you very much,'” he said. “And for all the people who hated and continue to hate, ‘Thank you very much.’ I couldn’t have did it without the believers and I couldn’t have did it without the haters because the haters when they speak, when they talk about me, the people who believe in me fall in love with me more. Thank you very much.”

Not one to leave a stone unturned, Joc addressed rumblings of a beef between him, Jeezy and D4L after the release of his single ‘A Couple Grand,’ saying there was no such issue when he did the song.

“No, I’m not dissing D4L and no I’m not dissing Jeezy. Just to let it be out there. You want to let it be known. I’m not dissin not a one of them n***as. I F**ks with them n***s. Matter of fact. I just did the ‘I’m Da Man’ remix with Shawty Lo and Rick Ross.”

June 15th, 2006 | By Administrator

Cash Money Records has reached a settlement with former in-house producer Mannie Fresh, who left the New Orleans based label due to a financial dispute.

“Cash Money Records has reached an amicable agreement with former in-house producer Mannie Fresh,” Representatives Cash Money Records/Universal told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “Per the agreement, neither party can discuss the terms.”

In the latest installment of Smack DVD titled The Album Vol. 1, Mannie Fresh explained his his decision to Cash Money Records.

“Now its me myself and I, doing big things,” Mannie Fresh said. “I left Cash Money because of money, scratch, moola. “I move on if something’s not right. I had to do my thing, because it wasn’t right. I still holla at everyone. I still get along with them dudes. I still look at them like brothers, I wasn’t raised like that. Its just a growing up thing and I had to move on.”

Mannie Fresh has since gone on to start his own record label, Chubby Boy Records.

B.G. and Juvenile also appear on the Smack DVD, stating that they the label because of financial mismanagement by Cash Money co-CEO and artist Bryan “Baby” Williams.

B.G. was the first to leave, claiming he had never received a royalty check for any album released before 1998.

The second to leave was platinum recording artist Juvenile, who for reportedly only received half of the tour money he had accumulated over 4 years. The rapper also claimed he had not received proper payment for his quadruple platinum album, 400 Degreez.

He returned to Cash Money records in 2003 for $4 million to release Juve The Great and later inked a deal with Asylum/Warner Music Group, as did B.G.

Mannie Fresh worked with B.G. on the hit “Move Around,” taken from B.G.’s latest album The Heart of Tha Streetz: Vol. 2 (I Am What I Am).

June 14th, 2006 | By Administrator

VH1 has orderd eight one-hour episodes of the new comedic reality series Egotrip Presents the White Rapper Show.

Hosted by Michael “MC Serch” Berrin, a former member of the pioneering white rap group 3rd Bass, the imaginative program features 12 white contestants who will compete in a series of challenges to test their rap skills and ability to mesh with black culture.

“In 2007, the mighty Egotrip collective and 12 hungry white rappers will put a black-eye on the face of reality television,” Egotrip/XXL’s Elliott Wilson told AllHipHop.com. As far as revealing any episode details, our lips are sealed like the Go-Go’s. But rest assured we’re working around the clock with Ken Mok. He’s taking a break from his top models to be our genie in the bottle. This show will blow cause I said so. Get your DVR’s ready!”

The participants will also live together in the South Bronx while facing a variety of creative and cultural trials with the winner taking home a cash prize.

The show will be co-executive produced by Egotrip, the multimedia production company behind TV’s Illest Minority Moments and the three-part spec Race-O-Rama.

White Rapper is the latest reality show by VH1 with a Hip-Hop theme. Earlier this year, VH1 announced the addition of a new reality series featuring Ice T entitled Rap School.

In Rap School, the rapper-turned-actor will coach and train a class of seventh and eight graders from New York City’s exclusive York Prep on the basics of becoming an MC.

VH1 also has a docudrama pilot in the works with Houston rapper Paul Wall.

June 14th, 2006 | By Administrator

A member of the Atlanta-based group Dem Franchize Boyz was arrested yesterday (June 13) during a police raid at a local recording studio.

Authorities confiscated more than 11 pounds of marijuana, $150,000 in cash, two handguns and a stack of pornography from the Making Money studio in Atlanta.

Sources told AllHipHop.com that all of the recording equipment was also seized, as well as four cars. DFB member Maurice “Parlae” Gleaton, 23, was one of the men arrested and charged.

“They were in the bathroom and they were trying to flush a lot of the drugs down the toilet,” Atlanta Police Officer Richard Light told Channel 2 Action News. “They just had too much and couldn’t flush it all down.”

Two children, who were at the studio during the raid, were taken into custody and were later released to their mother.

WSBTV reports that eight people were arrested, including Making Big Moves Records CEO Anthony Blalock. The raid occurred after authorities received a tip that drugs were being sold at the studio.

The suspects tried to get rid of the evidence after noticing officers on surveillance cameras, according to police.